Jackie MacMullan on WEEI this morning hinted that she was wondering if KG would be back next season.

Jackie Mac:

It's just a gut feeling and I may be totally wrong. I'm not basing this on any reporting or anything. Other than him just disappearing into the night after the final game. I do know this: that earlier in the year i was talking to Celtics people, they were joking that KG almost had this championship in the bank and he was fretting about next year because the f****** NBA was going to mess up the lockout year and that was going to screw them up. He knows his clock is ticking, he's very aware of it. A lot of cryptic comments during the season about his health and that no ones healthy, he's not healthy. The the one thing was a comment he made at the All-Star Game, where he said 'If this is my last time here...' and i thought boy that's odd.

Jackie then followed it up by saying she could be completely wrong on this, but said that KG took the loss to Miami worse than anyone. KG is the type of player that is so competitive that he might not want to come back if he can't be the player he once was.

KG is FAR from cooked. He can't play 40 mins a game, but if you keep his minutes in check, he's still want of the best PF's in the game. Add in the fact that he makes others around him up their defensive games and the idea that he's done is laughable.

If KG stays, one of the best PF returns, Defensive presence will return, one of the core group will return.Can he still play 30+ mn as a starter at 35? i don't know. Will he be able to stay healthy and in check (not too tired) with other PF in the East like Amar'e, Carlos Boozer and Bitch Bosh? (KG def owns Bitch Bosh)

Personally I don't want him to retire with only one ring

But i've heard others say let the big 3 retire together so we can have more money to get other young players to play with Rondo and GreenI've heard people say bench the big 3 and let them play in the 4th quarter (at key moments of the game) so experience can win

Honestly I'm anxious and impatient to see who Danny Ainge is going to keep and sign, and who Doc's going to start

I want the Big 3 to stay and win another championship They need to retire with 2 rings. That's my wish

Ha that's awesome Grant Long reference Speckles, but KG's 14-8 is better than Long's 14-8 ever was. I agree with JR, if his minutes are limited (like 26-28 a night during the regular season) and not exceeding 32 in the playoffs, I feel he can make that much of a difference.

COOKED!?!?! No words... As far as his comments at the All Star Game, "If this is my last time here"... it could just have easily meant that he feels he may not get voted in next season. Why would you jump to the conclusion that it means, "retirement".

"It's just a gut feeling and I may be totally wrong. I'm not basing this on any reporting or anything."

That comment there makes me think that Ms. MacMullan had a slow news day and figured the mentioning of KG's retirement would pull in views... aaaand VOILA!!!

Or, I could just be in complete denial about KG's retirement, but I doubt it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KG! As for me, i will not get tired of watching you play til your knees are too weak to jump and your body too worn out to move. Hope to see you back on the court next season & the seasons to come! :)

Jackie MacMullan is definitely in my top 3 of most competent Celtic newscasters. Not that she has much of a competition with Gary Tanguay and Dan Shaughnessy. She is always behind the team and she isn't the one to turn against the C's when they're underperforming.

Jackie Mac is as credible as anyone and more credible than most. She knows basketball, the NBA, the Celtics, and these players. Every time she writes a player profile, she gets information no one else ever got. (Something that probably wouldn't happen if she were in the habit of making stuff up for page views...)

Here, she's admitting that she's speculating, but her speculations come from an amazing knowledge base.

Ok, let's clear this up, I never said she made anything up for page views... (Yeah I feel like that comment was for me.) What I said is that it was a slow news day and mentioning something "so drastic"(in some peoples eyes), like KG's retirement would pull in views. Clearly it worked, reporters no matter how "credible" they are use that tactic all the time.

QD i definitely wasn't responding to u. Your word need to be taken strongly. What's the phrase you used the other day? :) Some anonymous said that coming from Jackie Mac this is hard to believe. I think that's who people are responding to.

And yes people do stuff to pull in page views. i know I do. lol. As long as it's not a made up story. Difference between lies and speculation.

(Something that probably wouldn't happen if she were in the habit of making stuff up for PAGE VIEWS,<-----<

Lol, JR, that's what I'm responding to. I just wanted to clear it up that I never said making things up. That mentioning his retirement on a site that many sports fans that adore KG read on a reg, would definitely catch the attention of many viewers. I'm sure that when people saw the title above (Kevin Garnett to Retire?). The logical parts of their brains didn't see the ?mark, more than likely they saw Kevin Garnett and Retire and instantly clicked the link.

I also use shocking statements in my introductions when I'm doing speeches and papers for class. Not the same forum as a site like this, or other sports sites, but it works and it pulls in the A's instead of views, lol. But reporters, sports writers, etc do it all the time. Not saying it's a problem, just saying I don't panic and read too much into it...

Now, I don't like all this seriousness... now transforming back into my silly, happy go lucky self. ShoutBox After Dark Mode.

LOL, Jenda I know... Oh and I don't want anyone to think I'm the angry Sports Blog commenter. Just didn't want anyone to misunderstand what I was saying. I actually like Ms. MacMullen, and respect her hustle... now that I've harassed you all for a little bit. I'm going to go be productive for a little while, in my 3 Point King Tee. Lol, thanx again JR. Holla at you guys later.

My gut says that he'll play out one more year, but who knows. I agree though, he's the type of player that will only play if he's 100% all in, he doesn't wanna be one of the guys that's out there just collecting a paycheck and taking the year off.

Whatever happens, I'm proud that he was on the C's and won a title here in '08.

Well think about it from a business point of view. If he does indicate that he'd want to retire; we can either sign a free agent depending on how much cap money we have or we have a choice to move his contract for a team that wants to save money. I don't know what type of player we can get. KG makes 20mil and that's a lot of money coming off the books, so it might be wise to just stand still and suck for a whole season, in that manner we get a good chance to draft someone really good, and sign a decent if not great player. Whichever way it works out for the Celtis i believe.

Why say something like this when you know, with the boston basketball world starving for information, would jump on it the way it just has. Who is she to come to this conclusion? Slow day? I think you are right. Come on jackie, we expect more from you than this~! If there is a lock out until january, she may be right there, but until we know what the circumstances are with the CBA, let's just go on the assumption he is coming back.I am sure he would give Danny his decision before the draft.

No way this man is going to retire: 1) he's my favorite player in the game, 2) he has a fire for the game that is unmatched by any other, 3) he is the most dominant defensive coordinator in the game (and offensive beast when he puts his mind to it)... when he arrived in Boston there was an immediate recognizable improvement, in every player, in defensive ability and aggressiveness, and that "energy" possessed by KG is no dimmer today than when he entered the game, and 4) the loss to Miami, if anything, only served to fuel the ambitious, yet entirely capable desire of one of the best players in the game ... they don't leave a game they love so dearly on that kind of note, they create their own to leave the game on their own terms. Kevin Garnett will be back in Boston Celtics Green again next season and "Banner 18" ... that will become a reality! Go Celtics!!!

He's still got more left. KG don't retire when the team you lead has another run left. A couple 50/50 balls and an injury or two less and you're in the conference finals right now. Every game came down to a few loose balls and lucky shots down the stretch. It's not over yet.

Only KG knows if he can still play at a high level. We all know he needs a caddy so he doesn't wear down over the long season so he can be primed for 1 more title run. Lots of things have to happen to make a title run a reality and not a dream. Regardless of some of the bad press he's received, KG is a winner, a warrior, and an all-time great. I was in Minny when he was drafted and have long admired his game. Glad he went "Green!" Go Celtics!

KG is a Hall of Famer and a Class Act no matter what he does. Would love to see the Celtics win another ring with KG, Ray & Paul nobody deserves it more than KG. Best defender in the NBA and the Heart & Soul of the Celtics....I appreciate what you have done for Boston KG and have loved watching you in a Celtics uniform!! KG=Champion, please stay!!!!!!